Ty Bracey: Aston Villa unlikely to sign Kieran Tierney in summer after Alex Moreno January signing
Despite signing Alex Moreno from Real Betis in the January transfer window, Aston Villa are reportedly ready to make a move for Arsenal left-back Kieran Tierney in the summer transfer window.
90min shared (8 March) that Unai Emery’s side were one of five Premier League clubs interested in signing the 25-year-old, who has fallen beneath Oleksandr Zinchenko in the pecking order at the Emirates this season.
Mikel Arteta would love to keep Tierney in north London but recognises the lack of regular first-team action could become an issue for the full-back’s development.
Although Tierney is regarded as a Champions League-level player and has picked up 35 caps for Scotland, the links are a little speculative, considering the form of Moreno since arriving at Villa Park.
The Spanish full-back has proven himself to be an attacking livewire down the left flank and chalked up his first assist for the club with an inch-perfect cross for Ollie Watkins to nod home in the 1-1 draw with West Ham on Sunday (12 March).
Speaking exclusively to Villa News, Aston Villa podcaster Ty Bracey admitted he thought a marquee transfer for Tierney this summer is unlikely due to the money splashed out on Moreno in the winter window.
He said: “Tierney will probably want out of Arsenal this summer because he is playing second-fiddle right now and there isn’t a place there for him, but Moreno didn’t come cheap and I’m not sure we would sign another left-back now.
“I also don’t think that the club will let Lucas Digne go in the summer as there’s currently some good competition there between the two right now.
“If the club didn’t sign Moreno in January, I would probably say it was a good option and could be likely, but I wouldn’t expect it to happen now despite the rumours.”
After only signing Moreno for £12million and Colombian forward Jhon Duran for a further £18million in January, Emery is expected to be given a war chest to place his stamp on the team by Wes Edens and Nassef Sawiris this summer.
The top priorities are likely to be further cover in central midfield for Boubacar Kamara and a winger who can provide proper competition for Leon Bailey on the right flank.
And although a move for Tierney may leave chins wagging within the Villa fanbase, there are more pressing areas of concern within the squad that must be dealt with first.
In other Aston Villa news, a “silly offer” could lead to Ollie Watkins quitting Villa Park in the summer.